Model Year Index

Which Honda Ridgeline years to avoid

Across 9 scored model years, the 2017, 2019 and 2020 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Honda Ridgeline Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2017 vs model median 1.7×
Model median3× median
Electrical 43
Fuel System 25
Driver Assist 15
Avoid

2017 · 2019

Best

2012 · 2014

What the record shows

Written from this model’s own complaint and recall history.

There are no 2015 or 2016 rows here because there were no 2015 or 2016 Ridgelines — the model was withdrawn after 2014 and returned for 2017. The trucks either side of that gap are unrelated vehicles, and the record divides along exactly that line.

The first generation is quiet: 18, 13, 36 and 20 complaints across 2010 to 2014, all grading B. Airbags and restraints leads three of those years, which is the Takata inflator period rather than anything specific to this truck.

The second generation is where the overall D comes from. Every year from 2017 to 2021 grades D or F, and electrical leads three of the five. The accounts describe tyre-pressure monitoring faults, water entering wiring connectors, and displays and driver assistance features dropping out. Fuel system runs alongside on the 2017 to 2019 trucks, where a recurring subject is the capless filler icing shut and a fuel odour drawn into the cabin.

2017 is the worst year at 1.65 times the model’s own median — modest by this site’s standards, which is worth saying plainly: this is a consistent D rather than a bad year.

Two ODI investigations sat open across 2017 to 2019. 2012 and 2014 are the strongest years, on 13 and 20 complaints.

Reviewed Claude, 11 August 2026, against the model's own record and NHTSA campaign filings

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.20× 18 B
2012
0.11× 13 B
2013
0.43× 36 B
2014
0.19× 20 B
2017
1.65× 170 F
2018
1.00× 99 D
2019
1.55× 129 F
2020
1.40× 135 D
2021
1.22× 113 D
2022 P
1.74× 150 D
2023 P
1.75× 169 D
2024 P
0.73× 71 B
2025 P
1.22× 104 C

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2017 F 170 reports · median 32,600 mi

  1. Electrical 43

    TPMS failure light immediately came on driving from the dealership. Took it back and and as leaving it came on again. Immediately went back for fix and upon nearing home 25 miles from dealer it came on again. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Fuel System 25

    Water leaks in to the capless fuel filler and freezes creating an ice dam that prevents fueling the vehicle. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 15

    The AWD harness that hooks up to the differential does not seal properly and lets in water. The water shorts out the electrical system and shuts down anti-lock brakes, vsa, blind spot monitoring and cross traffic, blind… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

1 crash · 3 fire · 2 injuries

2019 F 129 reports · median 14,500 mi

  1. Body & Interior 21

    The hood vibrates and bounces at highway speeds as if the hood is not completely latched. Also, the hood does not latch easily. It takes considerable force to get the hood latch to secure. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 21

    On 8/24/20 I heard a clicking noise in my steering wheel when turning at low speeds or parking. I didn't think much of it until seeing that many hondas have this issue. The issue seemed lined to the clock spring. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Fuel System 14

    Strong fuel odor coming from the engine compartment which is drawn in through the hvac vents while stopped. It also makes my garage smell like gasoline for hours after the vehicle is shut off. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

13 crash · 1 fire · 13 injuries

The best year for the Ridgeline

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2012 is the best-scoring Ridgeline model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 82.4 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2012 0.11× 13 B
2014 0.19× 20 B
2010 0.20× 18 B

Recalls

33 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
23V858000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2017–2020 2,490,460
16V061000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2014 2,232,187
16V344000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010 1,790,894
19V501000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2014 1,657,752
19V182000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2014 1,101,534
26V365000 STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS 2017–2023 880,514
24V064000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER 2020, 2021 750,114
21V932000 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD 2017–2020 724,826
21V215000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2019 624,552
23V174000 VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR 2020, 2021 339,404
17V029000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2012 308,884
23V751000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL 2017, 2019 248,999

+ 21 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2017 were reported at a median of 32,600 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Honda Ridgeline years should you avoid?
2017, 2019, 2020 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Honda Ridgeline model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Honda Ridgeline?
2012 is the best-scoring Honda Ridgeline model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 82.4 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Honda Ridgeline have?
33 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Honda Ridgeline model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2017 Ridgeline
Complaints in window
170
Severity-weighted
202.5
Model median (weighted)
123
vs model median
1.65×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
9
Open investigations
2
Score 37 F